US Women’s Open: Minjee Lee and Mina Harigae leading at halfway

• Australian joins American at nine-under-par mark
• Choi Hye-jin and Anna Nordqvist tied in third on -7

The seven-time LPGA Tour winner Minjee Lee has claimed a spot atop the leaderboard alongside the first-round leader, Mina Harigae, at the US Women's Open.

Lee started strongly on the second day with a pair of birdies and the Australian claimed another four, along with a bogey on the back nine, to record a 66 that had her at nine under par at Pine Needles. The golf course can really catch up to you quickly, so just trying to take whatever I have in front of me as I go and just try to take ... whenever I have a birdie opportunity, I try to take advantage of that," Lee said.